Bump‐out table and globe light. A waterfall‐edge table attached to the wall takes up little floor space yet has a big presence. Hanging a simple pendant light directly over the table focuses attention on the area and provides a warmer glow than the regular kitchen lighting.

Select a dining table made of sturdy stuff. If you want a table to last through years of dinner party wear and tear choose a table made from a hardwood such as mahogany walnut maple oak and teak. Tables made from engineered or composite woods which include plywoods and MDF are durable and economical but are never as strong as a hardwood.

Bright and breezy. This built‐in banquette needs little more than a small table and a couple of light‐colored chairs to complete a fine‐looking and functional kitchen nook. The window bench extends from the end of the kitchen cabinets to create an ideal space between two big windows. The banquette can also double as storage with a hinged lid seat covered by cushions.

Black Sashes. Sashes in interior design refer to the parts of the window holding each pane of glass in place – the frames within the frame. Painting your sashes black is a classic way to create instant drama in a window without adding anything else. It's common in countryside estates but looks perfectly contemporary in a more modern home that isn't the size of an estate.

Warm up a cool palette. Raw natural materials can add a sense of calm and warmth to a pared‐down space. This wood paneling and farmhouse table introduce subtle texture and interest to the white gray and blue color scheme.

Cool and clean. This spectacular dining banquette is sited in the middle of a living space in a renovated 1960s apartment in Melbourne. It was decorated by interior design company Mr. Mitchell within a stand‐alone all‐white cube. This "allowed us to introduce the macramé screen which is a fun reference to the retro era of the apartment" says Mr. Mitchell director Andrew Mitchell.

Mismatched chairs same material or shape. If you love hunting for vintage chairs a great way to build a set is by keeping an eye out for chairs made of the same material or in a distinctive shape – cane‐backed ladder‐back wood metal wicker and so on. Once you have your set you can determine whether or not you also want to unify them with paint (see No. 2).

Bring in natural light. "A frameless shower gives the illusion of openness. The less metal the less you notice that a wall is dividing the space" says Alison Causer of Alison Causer Design. "In this master bath I really wanted the natural light to reach every corner of the room. Since we used dark natural stone on all four walls we really needed to keep the light moving around the room". Maximize the view. "This home has a sophisticated and subdued palette with walnut casework throughout" says Kerry Ellis of Benning Design Associates. "It also has stunning views which is why we decided to keep the master bath and shower so open".